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What is homelessness?

Since it lacks a consistent definition, homelessness is difficult to Communicate. Homelessness is viewed with those living outdoors and in other places not intended for human habitation, including those living in shelters. The different types of homelessness are as follows:

Absolute homelessness is what most people would consider to be “homeless”. This includes people sleeping outdoors in parks or ravines, begging on the sidewalk, etc.

Sheltered homeless are those living in emergency shelters.

Hidden or concealed homeless are people who have lost their jobs, homes or belongings and are temporarily staying with friends or family

At-risk homeless include people who are living in substandard or unsafe housing and persons who are spending a very large proportion of their monthly income on housing.

Homelessness Facts:

Did you know...

Over 250,000 people are homeless in Canada and including 40 000 people in the city of Toronto alone.

1 in 10 Canadians or almost 3.5 million people live in poverty. Add to this the large number of Canadians who recently lost jobs or income due to the economic crisis and the extent of this problem is mind numbing.

552,000 Toronto households have incomes below the poverty line

31,985 homeless individuals (including 4,779 children) stayed in a Toronto shelter at least once during 2002.

Why is this happening ?

Abuse is a factor in youth homelessness. Many homeless young people have been victims of sexual, physical or psychological abuse. Social service agencies show that 75% of the street children interviewed had left home because of sexual assaults or physical and psycho-emotional abuse. Living on the street is no protection, street life is a violent environment for anyone, it is even more violent for homeless young people and women Addiction and mental illness often leads to homelessness and tends to be worsened by the experience. Of surveyed homeless people, 39% have a mental health problem, 22-25% have serious mental illness. , 38% have an alcohol problem, and 26% report problems with other drugs. There is a growing need for mental health and substance use treatment for homeless , 45% suffer from mental illness, and half have substance abuse problems. Poverty is the leading cause of homelessness in Canada. Lack of income or affordable housing is forcing thousands of Canadians into homelessness; Add to this job losses and the numbers are sure to increase. Statistics Canada reports that 1.45 million Canadians want to work, but cannot find a job. However, housing itself does not resolve the problem of homelessness. Factors such as unemployment, mental and physical health, and addictions to drugs or alcohol can prevent some individuals from maintaining a permanent residence.

When people with an addiction or mental illness have choice and control over their housing, they are more likely to report increased well-being, housing satisfaction, psychological stability, and an increase in independent functioning. Supportive housing leads to improvements in social skills, social networks and increased participation in the community.

Homelessness and insecure housing are triggering a health crisis:

The lack of safe, affordable housing leads to increased illness and premature death but it’s not just the homeless and inadequately housed who are suffering. Toronto’s affordable housing crisis is disrupting neighbourhoods and threatening the city’s competitiveness in the international economy. It is costing taxpayers $159 million annually just for homeless shelters and services.

Homelessness has been growing rapidly, almost six times faster than the overall population.

In 1960, there were 900 beds in the city’s shelter system and 1.6 million people living in Toronto by 2006, Toronto had 4,181 shelter beds in a city of 2.6 million people. The face of homelessness is changing as more families and children line-up for shelters.

Lack of income or affordable housing is forcing thousands of Canadians into homelessness; Add to this job losses and the numbers are sure to increase. Statistics Canada reports that 1.45 million Canadians want to work, but cannot find a job.

However, housing itself does not resolve the problem of homelessness. Factors such as unemployment, mental and physical health, and addictions to drugs or alcohol can prevent some individuals from maintaining a permanent residence.

When people with an addiction or mental illness have choice and control over their housing, they are more likely to report increased well-being, housing satisfaction, psychological stability, and an increase in independent functioning. Supportive housing leads to improvements in social skills, social networks and increased participation in the community.

Who is homeless?

Many people stereotype the homeless as a group largely of older, alcoholic and predoninantly crazy males.

Thousands of children run away from home each year in Canada. In 1995, 75% of the 56,749 missing children who were reported to the police were runaways. Police departments say that, although 90% of these runaway children return home within 60 days of leaving, the others never go back. As alarming as these figures are, runaways account for only a portion of the homeless youth population which also includes young people living in shelters with their mother or both parents. The 1987 CCSD survey found that 11.5% of the people in the shelters documented were under the age of 16. Homeless youth tend to range in age between 12 and 24, the girls being generally younger and the boys generally older.

Homelessness is a frequent experience of persons with addictions or mental illnesses.

Poverty is common among persons with addictions or mental illnesses, and a significant risk factor for homelessness. People with a serious addiction or mental illness are disproportionately affected by homelessness; 30-35 percent of people who are homeless have a mental illness. Persons with serious addictions or mental illnesses are over-represented among those who are homeless, as they are released from hospitals and jails without proper community supports and housing in place for them.

How could we resolve the problem ?

Affordable and supportive housing affects quality of life. Housing is a basic human right and a key determinant of health.
In January 2006, Raising the Roof launched Youthworks, a Canada-wide initiative aimed at breaking the cycle of homelessness among young people. For further information on the raising the roof mission please go to http://www.raisingtheroof.org

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